Base lever with release stop and lock stop

Abstract

A saw assembly includes a drive member, a motor, a housing, a foot, a spring, a first clamp component, and a clamp actuator. The drive member is configured to be moved in a repeating pattern. The motor is configured to move the drive member in the repeating pattern. The housing defines an interior space in which the motor is positioned and includes a first limiter. The foot includes (i) a base defining a work piece contact surface, and (ii) an extension structure attached to the base. The foot is configured to pivot in relation to the housing about a pivot axis between a rest position and a non-rest position. The spring is configured to bias the foot toward the rest position. The first clamp component includes a first clamping surface positioned in the interior space of the housing. The clamp actuator has a second limiter and a second clamping surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A saw assembly, comprising:
 a drive member for driving a saw blade, said drive member configured to be moved in a repeating pattern; 
 a motor operably connected to said drive member for moving said drive member in said repeating pattern; 
 a housing defining an interior space in which said motor is positioned, said housing including a first limiter; 
 a foot including
 (i) a base defining a work piece contact surface, and 
 (ii) an extension structure attached to said base, said foot being pivotable in relation to said housing about a pivot axis between a rest position and a non-rest position; 
 
 a spring that biases said foot toward said rest position; 
 a first clamp component including a first clamping surface positioned in said interior space of said housing; and 
 a clamp actuator including
 (i) a hub portion, 
 (ii) a manually engageable lever portion extending from said hub portion, 
 (iii) a tab, separate from said lever portion, extending from said hub portion and defining a second limiter, and 
 (iv) a second clamp component having a second clamping surface, 
 
 wherein said extension structure extends between said first clamping surface and said second clamping surface during pivoting of said foot in relation to said housing about said pivot axis, 
 wherein said clamp actuator is rotatable between a first actuator position and a second actuator position, 
 wherein, when said clamp actuator is positioned in said first actuator position, said first clamping surface is spaced apart from said second clamping surface by a first distance allowing said extension structure to advance between said first clamping surface and said second clamping surface during pivoting of said foot in relation to said housing about said pivot axis, 
 wherein, when said clamp actuator is positioned in said second actuator position, said first clamping surface is spaced apart from said second clamping surface by a second distance clamping said extension structure between said first clamping surface and said second clamping surface so that pivoting of said foot in relation to said housing is inhibited, 
 wherein rotation of said clamp actuator in a first rotational direction beyond said first actuator position is prevented by physical interaction between said first limiter and said second limiter, and 
 wherein rotation of said clamp actuator in an opposite second rotational direction beyond said second actuator position is prevented by physical interaction between said first limiter and said second limiter. 
 
     
     
       2. The saw assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said second clamp component and said hub portion are configured so that rotation of said hub portion causes rotation of said second clamp component. 
     
     
       3. The saw assembly of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said second clamping component includes a first drive structure, and 
 said hub portion includes a second drive structure that mates with said first drive structure. 
 
     
     
       4. The saw assembly of  claim 3 , wherein:
 said first drive structure includes an exterior polygonal-shaped surface, and 
 said second drive structure includes an interior polygonal-shaped surface that mates with said exterior polygonal-shaped surface. 
 
     
     
       5. The saw assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said hub portion is fastened to said second clamp component with a fastener. 
     
     
       6. The saw assembly of  claim 2 , wherein:
 one of said first clamp component and said second clamp component includes a bore structure that defines a set of internal threads, and 
 the other of said first clamp component and said second clamp component includes a post having a set of external threads that mesh with said set of internal threads. 
 
     
     
       7. The saw assembly of  claim 6 , wherein:
 said first clamp component includes said bore structure that defines said set of internal threads, and 
 said second clamp component includes said post having said set of external threads. 
 
     
     
       8. The saw assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said first limiter includes a first contact surface and a second contact surface, 
 said second limiter includes a third contact surface and a fourth contact surface, 
 rotation of said clamp actuator in said first rotational direction beyond said first actuator position is prevented by physical interaction between said first contact surface of said first limiter and said third contact surface of said second limiter, and 
 rotation of said clamp actuator in said opposite second rotational direction beyond said second actuator position is prevented by physical interaction between said second contact surface of said first limiter and said fourth contact surface of said second limiter. 
 
     
     
       9. The saw assembly of  claim 8 , wherein:
 said housing has an exterior surface, 
 said first limiter includes an arcuate structure attached to said exterior surface, and 
 said arcuate structure defines said first contact surface at one end of said arcuate structure and said second contact surface at the other opposite end of said arcuate structure. 
 
     
     
       10. The saw assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said tab defines said third contact surface on one side of said tab and said fourth contact surface on the other opposite side of said tab. 
     
     
       11. The saw assembly of  claim 10 , wherein:
 said lever portion extends from a first side of said hub portion, and 
 said tab extends from an opposite second side of said hub portion. 
 
     
     
       12. The saw assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said housing has an exterior surface, and said first limiter extends from said exterior surface. 
     
     
       13. The saw assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said extension structure includes a first end portion and an unsupported second end portion, 
 said first end portion is attached to said base, 
 said extension structure defines a spring contact surface, and 
 said spring is positioned in contact with said spring contact surface.